Pre-game report: Heat has 10 available to face Bucks
No one would blame the Miami Heat players for looking ahead.
The Heat is playing the final game of a grueling, six-game, 11-day trip in Milwaukee on Friday night. Miami drubbed the Bucks, 96-73, on Nov. 17 in south Florida, but much has changed for both teams since then.
Miami, in a rebuilding phase, is 11-29 and has a 1-4 record on its current road swing. Milwaukee is 19-18 and coming off a rare victory in San Antonio on Tuesday, despite Antetokounmpo only playing 9 minutes in the first half and sitting out the rest of the game because he was sick.
"Our guys understand," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We're not in any position to have that kind of attitude. Thankfully, we had two days to come from the West Coast to here. We had a very good practice yesterday, a good shootaround today.
"Our guys will be ready."
Miami only has 10 players available. Backup center Willie Reed is out with a bruised sternum and Josh Richardson remains out with a left foot injury. This will be the third straight game Richardson has missed.
"We've got 10 guys, so everybody is on the table," Spoelstra said. "I imagine everybody will play tonight. That keeps it pretty simple. Guys understand their roles and play as hard as you can. Any lineup that works, we're going with."
The Heat opened its trip with a loss at Phoenix before beating Sacramento. Then came defeats against both Los Angeles teams and a 107-95 loss at Golden State. Center Hassan Whiteside missed the first three games of the trip with an eye injury but has played in the last two and had 28 points and 20 rebounds in 37 minutes against the Warriors on Tuesday night.
Spoelstra said he was impressed with the way the Bucks knocked off the Spurs and he complimented the play of former Heat player and current Bucks forward Michael Beasley.
"I think he's found a place where they believe in him, and his skill set fits what they do," Spoelstra said. "He's positionless and you can just throw him out there in certain games. He can really put points on the board.
"We've always liked Michael. We always thought it was just the right place, the right timing. And I think it's the right point in his career where it's all fitting together."
Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Giannis Antetokounmpo will be ready to go against the Heat.
Miami humiliated the Bucks in the first meeting, holding Milwaukee to a season-low 25 points in the second half, a season-low 11 in the fourth quarter and a season-low shooting percentage (32.9%).
Antetokoumpo (5 for 15) and Jabari Parker (5 for 20) combined to shoot 10 for 35 from the floor. Greg Monroe did not play-coach's decision, the only game the 6-11 center has not played in the entire season.